Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-07-07


blood and liberty secured to themselves
aud their ppsterit forever. They were IRE.
to lullill their God-siv.n destiny and be-
come the greatest nation, the most pros
porous people on the lace oi the earth. TO
that small army and it, gallant leaders
great only IN courage and the grand cause
for which they fought. what do we not
owe? To Washington. the Father nl his
country; to Warren. the martyr 81 Bunker
Hill: to Adams, to Hancock and their no
bile compa MONS the people OF the United
4 State. owe a debt of unbounded gratitude
and praise. The principles for which they
so valiantly fought and sedulouSy main
tsin.d shall remain as "A sacred monument
and beacon Eight To lar and to the millions
yet unborn.
"All honor 10 the memory Of our fathcrs
May the turf lie gently on their sacred
graves But let MS not in words only but
in deeds also. testify our reverence for their
names. Let us initiate what in them was
( lofty pure and good let us FROM them
learn To bear hardship and prva ION: let
us, who now reap in strength That they
sowed IN weakness, study To enhance the
inheritance we have received. To do this
We must not fold our hands in slumber nor
abide content with the past. To each gem
Grafton IL committed its PECULIAR task; nor
does the heart which responds to the call
of duty find rest except in the world to
come.
More than Il century has elapsed since
those lovers Of liberty declared Themselves
Tree. severed their allegiance to foreign
power aud established here government
which should hold all men free and equal
"a government Of the people by the peupic
and for the people.
We are free, not only ia name but in real
itv. Every rule Of action. every law forthe
administratio of our government bears
the indeiible impress OF liberty. freedom
and Independence. Here, more than in any
other country, man is the architect of his
own fortune. lie may make himself what
he VIII. All paths are open tn him. No
matter how humble may have been his or
igin. il he be ambitions and pcrsevcring
step by step. he may attain the highest po-
sition within the gift Of the people Who
are the men whose names shine brightest
and with undyng luster upon the pages of
our country's history, and whose memories
are forever en-hrued in the hearts of the
American people? They are our self made
men, men al humble pareniage, whose early
trials and struggles against adverse circum-
stances Taught them self reliance and the
great lesson, life is real; life is earnest" In
this, our glorious Republic, depend not
upon paltry hereditary titles for honor
aud high station. Here men are honored
according To their true wort h. and high no
sifions are given to men whose deeds have
demonstrated their ability to fill them.
1s not our land an asylum for the OPP
pressed Of all nations? From the north,
from the south. from the east and the west
they come To us seeking homes. Aud do
they fail to find them? No. For as Pat
rick Henry SO beautifully said They see
here II land blessed with natural and polt-
cal advantages which are not equalled by
amy other country upon earth land on
which a gracious Providence hath emptied
/ the horn of abundance; a land over which
Peace hath now stretched her white wings
and whore Content and Plenty lie down at
every door,
Most certainly do his eloquent words en-
press the gratifying condition OF our own
vast Territory to-day. our mountain
ranges are filed with the precious metals
while our verdant valleys and broad
benches furnish rich pasturage to the thou
sands OF cattle. sheep and horses that Craze
thereon. Containing nearly 100. 900. 600
OF acres, il is impossible to estimate the
vast wealth Of our natural resources. With
rapidly increasing population. towns
and cities springing up as ii by magic, our
growth as "A Territory has been phenom-
email
As regards wealth, push and enterprise,
Montana could to-day occupy leading
position among the States, and we hope
ere long to see her rights and qualifications
acknowledged and her admission as n State
secured. Our Territory is now attracting
more attention than any other, and CAPT
talists from all parts of the country are
eager to invest their wealth here. The de-
lishtful climate, mineral wealth and stock
raising facilities recommend Montana 10
those seeking wealth aud the almighty dol
lar. And we hope soon to see mills and
factories erected, thus utilizing our beauii-
ful streams to contribute to the general
prosperity Of our Territory.
Our educational STANDARD is growing
l., a al
surest symptoms OF our prosperity; for
education wieds n powerful influence for
good in any land, and especially so in this.
our glorious Republic. where the people
virtually govern themselves.
During the last few years there has been
n great change in the moral tone of the
whole Territory. Year by year less crime
and depredations have been committed,
until to-day Montana compares favorab.y
with the most law-abiding, States Of the
Union.
With the early history Of this Terrii DRY
we associate the name of one of the fea rless
leaders OF the Young Ireland party
who. when our Nation was in the throes of
civil II rife, did much credit To himself aud
reelected much honor upon his native coun-
try from which he had been bauished.
refer to the soldier. the orator and the
statesman. Thomas Francis Meagher. Tn
able to further assist in the liberation of
the down-trudden people of his native
land, he gave valuable services in the vim
dication oi the union against disunion.
Very recently We have been called upon
to mourn the loss OF one who did much for
the advancement Of our Territory, the late
lameuted Ex-Governor BENZ. F. Potts. "a
man of sterling principles and aeknowl-
edged ability. Those who knew him best
speak loudest praises in his memory. Each
year the honored aud respected pioneers of
our torritor, are passing away. and ere
long history must alone reveal their past
existence and record their noble deeds. II
shall be left for us aud coming generation
To finish the work they have so well begun
and tn sec fulfilled their dreams Of Mon
tana's future.
In spite of the fact that war has again
devastated our fair land aud left il red
with the blood of brother slain by brother,
the Union IL now stronger than ever and
never WAS our country in IA more prosper
Gus condition. Never had the American
people greater cause to be proud of the
beautiful land they call their own and
grateful To the noble mcn-the heroes OF
l176-who fought for the principles which
have made our government "a shining hight
To all the world and guided the ship oi
state safely through such perilous waters
Our government was founded by "a most
patriotic set of men and they builded bet
ter than they knew. Then let US never
forget the debt of gratitude we owe them;
and a. years pass on and the struggle for
independence fade. farther and farther into
the past, let us not neglect to pay a II honor
To this day, the anniversary of so import
ant "A crisis in the affairs OF the land we
hold 50 dear. And all through the coming